Blockchain-based game Shrapnel identified numerous users attempting to gain an unfair advantage and issued a warning of permanent bans against any manipulation. It was discovered that Shrapnel users employed two illegal strategies to climb the leaderboards during an early access game event.
Notable Development in Web3 Gaming
Several Web3 players formed teams and coordinated their ranks to defeat other players, significantly affecting solo players. Additionally, it was found that users accessed the same player account from multiple devices, which implies an unfair advantage through teamwork. The company’s statement on the issue continued:
“These developments include sharing login information, allowing others access to in-game characters, items, or progress, or using another person’s account, but are not limited to these.”
Shrapnel announced it has systems in place to detect the aforementioned abnormalities that violate the game’s terms of use, and all players found in violation will be removed from the current STX leaderboard and considered for a permanent ban.
Immediate Reaction to the Decision
The team also encouraged players to report any cheating incidents as the game prepares to go live, with the following statement:
“Especially as players start withdrawing money with NFTs and other crypto assets, it is very important for us to identify and fix all issues before the game fully goes live.”
However, a community member stated that this decision punishes communities that prefer to play team matches. In response to the criticisms, Shrapnel clarified that it would only remove users who were unfairly coordinated to climb the leaderboard, not those playing with friends.
In September 2023, Shrapnel decided to block US users from cashing out in-game assets due to legal issues with the Securities and Exchange Commission. However, the game remains unrestricted for players in Europe and Asia.
